Foldable ironing board

ABSTRACT

An elongated collapsible table structure suitable for use as an ironing board or the like, and comprising in combination, support frame means and a plurality of table forming segments, the segments being hingedly secured together and arranged to be disposed in a first collapsed disposition and a second extended disposition. Cover means are provided for covering or enclosing the structure while in collapsed disposition, the cover means providing a decorative or utilitarian purpose. The support frame means include a plurality of legs supporting a pair of generally axially parallelly disposed laterally spaced mounting rails and means are provided for accommodating relative lateral reciprocatory to-and-fro shifting of the mounting rails along a direction transverse to the rail axes, and means are provided for mechanically biasing said frame means and urging said mounting rails toward one another. The table forming segments include a central segment along with tip and butt segments, the tip and butt segments each being secured to the mounting rails with mounting brackets at a point adjacent the juncture with the central segment, the mounting brackets being arranged for pivotal arcuate rotation about the mounting rails between the collapsed disposition and the extended disposition, with the length of the arm of the mounting brackets providing for significant differences in elevation for the table between the collapsed disposition and the extended disposition.

United States Munson [4 Feb.,1972

[54] FOLD/ABLE IRONING BUARD Donald J. Munson, Minneapolis, Minn.

North Central Manufacturing Corporalion, Minneapolis, Minn.

[22] Filed: Nov. 30, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 93,576

[72] Inventor:

[73] Assignee:

1,069,978 8/1913 Prescott. ..l08/63 1,518,358 12/1924 Ronayne.... ..108/62 1,579,123 3/1926 McCabe.. 108/63 X 1,654,330 12/1927 Jenkins 108/63 X 1,721,703 7/1929 Macomber. ..l08/63 X 2,333,784 11/1943 Harris ..108/63 X Primary Examiner-Francis K. Zugel Att0mey-0rrin M. Haugen [5 7] ABSTRACT An elongated collapsible table structure suitable for use as an ironing board or the like, and comprising in combination, support frame means and a plurality of table forming segments, the segments being hingedly secured together and arranged to be disposed in a first collapsed disposition and a second extended disposition. Cover means are provided for covering or enclosing the structure while in collapsed disposition, the cover means providing a decorative or utilitarian purpose. The support frame means include a plurality of legs supporting a pair of generally axially parallelly disposed laterally spaced mounting rails and means are provided for accommodating relative lateral reciprocatory to-and-fro shifting of the mounting rails along a direction transverse to the rail axes, and means are provided for mechanically biasing said frame means and urging said mounting rails toward one another. The table forming segments include a central segment along with tip and butt segments, the tip and butt segments each being secured to the mounting rails with mounting brackets at a point adjacent the juncture with the central segment, the mounting brackets being arranged for pivotal arcuate rotation about the mounting rails between the collapsed disposition and the extended disposition, with the length of the arm of the mounting brackets providing for significant differences in elevation for the table between the collapsed disposition and the extended disposition.

11 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATETEU FEB 8 I972 smm 1 m 2 IN v E NTOR DONAL 0 J. MU/VSO/V ATTORNEY FEB 81972 SHEET P. U? 2 INVENTOR DONALD J. MU/VSO/V Y 2. M ATTORNEY FOLDABLE IRONING BOARD FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to improved collapsible table structures, and more specifically to an ironing board structure which is arranged to be disposed in either a collapsed or extended disposition. In the collapsed disposition, cover means are provided for enclosing the collapsed structure, with the cover means providing a surface for a utility cart, coffee table or the like. In the extended disposition, the ironing board structure provides an elongated board structure which is disposed at certain predetermined elevation, the elevation being significantly above the plane of the mounting rails.

In order to conserve space requirements, collapsible structures are frequently desired for devices infrequently used. For example, ironing boards are a common household utility device which are only infrequently used, but which are, nevertheless, an essential requirement for normal households. One primary technique for conserving space is to provide for dual-purpose devices, whereby structures infrequently used may be designed to have alternate uses or purposes, and thus space requirements are conserved over that which would otherwise be required.

An ironing board is typical structure of awkward size. The length required for a typical ironing board structure is between 48 inches and 54 inches. The working height of typical ironing boards or ironing tables is between 32 inches and 34 inches. Thus, ti has been customary in the past to provide a one-piece working surface or table with a collapsible frame or support structure. While in use, the working surface is supported on the frame means, and while not in use, the frame means are collapsed and the structure stored. In accordance with the present invention, however, a collapsible working surface or table is provided which may be disposed in a compact collapsed disposition while not in use, but which may be opened and arranged in extended disposition at a desired working elevation. While in collapsed form, the elevation of the individual segments forming the working surface of the table are at a significantly lower elevation. Thus, the unit has a feature of a desired working surface when functioning as an ironing table or board, and a significantly difierent upper or top elevation while functioning as an alternate structure, such as a utility cart, serving table, or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, an elongated table or ironing board structure is provided which has support frame means and a plurality of table forming segments. The support frame means include a plurality of legs which support a pair of mounting rails, and means are provided to accommodate relative lateral reciprocatory to-and-fro shifting of the mounting rails along a direction transverse to the rail axes. Preferably, mechanical biasing means are provided for normally urging the mounting rails in a direction toward each other. THe table forming segments include a central segment, a tip segment and a butt segment, with the central segment comprising substantially 50 percent of the length of the elongated structure, and with the tip segment and butt segment being of substantially equal length. The tip and butt segments are hingedly secured to the central segment and are each secured to the mounting rails at a point adjacent to the juncture with the central segment. The mounting bracket means which are utilized to secure the tip and butt segments to the central segment are arranged for pivotal arcuate rotation about the mounting rails, and thus accommodate the motion required to bring the table structure from collapsed disposition to extended disposition. Preferably, the mounting brackets have an elongated arm portion for moving the individual segments forming the table from depending relationship to the mounting rails while in collapsed form to an elevated relationship to said mounting rails while in the extended disposition.

Therefore, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved compact collapsible elongated table or ironing board structure which is provided with a normal support frame means, and a collapsible working surface for the table structure.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved ironing board structure having a relatively noncollapsible frame means and a collapsible table structure supported thereon, the table structure being arranged at a relatively low elevation while in collapsed disposition, and at a significantly higher elevation while in extended working disposition.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved elongated table or ironing board structure which is provided with a collapsible working surface, and which is adapted to receive a removable top in enclosing and concealing relationship with said collapsed table structure.

Other 'and further objects of the present invention will becomeglapparent to those skilled in the art upon a study of the following specification, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an isometric view of the elongated table structure of the present invention, the table structure being shown in collapsed disposition, with the cover member being illustrated in exploded disposition thereover;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 1 with the cover having been removed, and illustrating, in phantom, the disposition of the structure with the table in extended disposition;

FIG. 3 is a detail partial elevational view showing a portion of the central segment and a portion of one of the other segments forming the table structure, the figure illustrating, in solid, the collapsed disposition, and illustrating, in phantom, the extended disposition of these segments and components;

FIG. 4 is a detail end elevational view of a modified form of a table structure fabricated in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 of a modified form of structure, with a modified cover member being illustrated in exploded disposition thereover; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 5, with the cover having been removed, and illustrating, in phantom, the disposition of the structure while the table is being raised into its extended disposition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODIFICATION In accordance with the preferred modification of the present invenfion, the table structure generally designated 10 includes a working table structure generally designated 11, along with a cover member generally designated 12. The table structure includes frame means including a first pair of legs 14 and 15, and a second pair of legs 16 and 17. These legs are pivotally secured to the rigid base member 18 by means of pivots or pivotal couplings such as at 19 and 20. At the upper end of the legs 14, l5, l6 and 17, are a pair of mounting rails 21 and 22. These mounting rails are generally axially parallelly disposed, and are in laterally spaced relationship, one to another. The mounting rails support and carry the individual segments forming the ironing board structure, and this arrangement of the structure will be more fully described hereinafter. The individual pairs of legs 14 and 15, and 16 and 17, are coupled together by a pair of spring-loaded central braces 24 and 25, these braces being formed of a pair of telescoping segments such as the segments 26 and 27. A helically wound or coiled spring is utilized to bias the segment 27 in the direction shown by arrow 28, thus normally urging the mounting rails 21 and 22 in a direction toward each other.

The spring-loaded braces 24 and 25 accommodate relative lateral reciprocatory to-and-fro shifting of the mounting rails in a direction which is generally transverse to the rail axes.

This reciprocatory motion is necessary in order to accommodate the shifting between collapsed and extended disposition, and in addition, the mechanical bias provides added stability to the free-standing structure. As can be appreciated, the individual pairs of legs 14 and 15, and 16 and 17 pivot generally about the pivot points such as are represented at 19 and 20, this pivotal motion occurring during the shifting of the structure from collapsed disposition to extended disposition, and vice versa.

Attention is now directed to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings wherein the operation of the structure is illustrated in greater detail. The working surface of the structure, such as the surface forming the ironing table, includes a central segment 30, a butt segment 31, and a tip segment 32. These segments are secured together by the hinge element shown generally at 33, and including a central body section 34, along with a pair of opposed end sections 35 and 36. As is typical in this type of structure, means are provided for hingedly coupling the sections 35 and 36 to the central section 34. This type of structure is commercially available, and is provided in this device in order to accommodate a gap between the individual segments, when collapsed, such as is illustrated at 37. A mounting bracket 39 is utilized to couple the butt section 31 to the mounting rail 21. An identical mounting arrangement is utilized at the forward end of the structure, such as between the tip segment 32 and the mounting rail 22. The bracket 39 has an elongated arm, such as is illustrated dimensionally at 40, and the length of this arm provides for the distinct elevation differences in the structure between the collapsed disposition and the extended disposition. Arrows are illustrated for showing the motion achieved and undertaken during the opening of the structure from collapsed disposition to extended disposition. The mounting bracket 39 has an abutment surface as at 42, and this abutment surface is arranged to make contact with a similar abutment surface on the stop plate 43, the abutment surface of the stop plate 43 being shown at 44. As is illustrated in phantom in FIG. 3, these abutment surfaces are in contacting relationship along the contact line as shown at 45.

In order to provide for greater ease of handling the individual segments, knobs 47 and 48 may be provided for gripping points to lift the tip an butt segments from the collapsed disposition shown in FIG. 2, in solid, to the extended disposition shown in phantom in FIG. 2.

Attention is now directed to FIG. 4 of the drawings wherein a modified form of the structure is illustrated. In the modification of FIG. 4, the structure generally designated 50 includes a working surface or table 51 supported by frame means 52 52, along with a cover member 53. Cover member 53 is secured to the frame means 52 by means of an elongated piano hinge shown at 54, this hinge having a slip-coupling arrangement along the axis thereof to accommodate lateral reciprocatory to-and-fro shifting of the mounting rails similar to the mounting rails 21 and 22 provided on the structure shown in FIG. 1.

The modification of FIGS. 13 illustrates one suitable type of leg structure. As an alternative, a x-type support frame or leg structure could be utilized with a common pivot point being employed generally midway along the extent of the individual members forming the .r" structure. In such an arrangement, it will, nevertheless, be necessary to provide for a resilient bias means to permit shifting of the individual leg pairs. As a further modification, it is appreciated that a single spring-loaded brace may be employed for controlling the disposition of the individual pairs of legs, and if a single such brace is utilized, it may be desirable to utilize a pair of crossrails which would extend between the individual pairs of legs such as the pair 14 and 15.

Attention is now directed to the modified form of the structure shown in FIGS. and 6. In this structure, the structure generally designated 60 comprises frame means including posts or legs 61, 62, 63 and 64, with a pair of mounting rails 65 and 66 coupled to the individual pairs of legs. Also, a rigid but resilient base support member, such as the tubing support member 68 is provided near the base of the legs, the requirement of resiliency being discussed hereinafter.

The mounting rails are equipped with a plurality of table forming segments, such as the segments 30, 31 and 32, these being identical to the structure illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. The basis of the modification lies in the manner in which the tubular support member 68 provides resilient biasing means for permitting the individual pairs of legs to move apart, rockingly, one from another, so as to permit the individual board segments 30, 31 and 32 to be raised to their elevated dispositions.

With attention being redirected to FIG. 5 of the drawings, it will be seen that the ends of the individual tubing rails forming the support member 68 are bonded, such as by welding or the like, to an arcuate mounting pad 69. Each of the legs is identically coupled, and the pad is accordingly secured to the leg at this arcuate disposition. Upon spreading of the support rails 65 and 66, the tubing support member 68 will assume an arcuate configuration, such as is illustrated in phantom in FIG. 6, until the individual segments 30, 31 and 32 forming the table are in their elevated disposition.

The tubular support member 68 accordingly provides a resilient mechanical bias for the individual legs 61, 62, 63 and 64, and tends to retain these in a predetermined disposition.

What is claimed is:

1. An elongated collapsible table structure comprising, in combination, a support frame means and a plurality of table forming segments;

a. said support frame means including a plurality of legs supporting a pair of generally axially parallelly disposed laterally spaced mounting rails and means accommodating relative lateral reciprocatory to-and-fro shifting of said mounting rails along a direction transverse to the rail axes, and means mechanically biasing said frame means normally urging said mounting rails in a direction toward each other;

. said table forming segments including a central segment, a tip segment, and a butt segment with said tip and butt segments being hingedly secured to said central segment and arranged to be disposed in a first collapsed disposition in superimposed relationship to said central segment and in a second extended disposition with said tip and butt segments in axial extension with said central segment;

c. said tip and butt segments each being secured to said mounting rails at a point adjacent the juncture with said central segment with mounting bracket means arranged for pivotal arcuate rotation about said mounting rails between said collapsed disposition and said extended disposition.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said tip and butt segments are hingedly secured to the top surface of said central segment.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said mounting bracket means have an elongated arm portion for moving said central, tip and butt segments from depending relationship to said mounting rails while in said collapsed disposition to an elevated relationship to said mounting rails while in said extended disposition.

4. The combination as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said tip segment is tapered toward the free end thereof.

5. The combination as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said mechanical biasing means includes a spring-loaded brace coupled to said legs and extending beneath each of said mounting rails and disposed generally transverse to said rail axes.

6. The combination as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said central segment has an abutment stop plate and said mounting bracket means has an abutment surface for contacting said stop plate upon reaching said extended disposition.

7. The combination as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said frame means includes four legs, each of said legs being pivotally secured to a rigid base support along an axis generally parallel to the axes of said mounting rails.

8. The combination as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that cover means are provided for enclosing said table structure while in said collapsed disposition.

9. The combination as defined in claim 8 being particularly characterized in that said cover means has an downwardly extending skirt enclosing said table structure while in collapsed disposition.

10. The combination as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said hinge means securing said tip and butt segments to said central segment includes a hinge means with a central body section hingedly coupled to a pair of opposed end sections, said end sections securing said tip and butt segments to said central segment in spaced apart superimposed relationship while in said collapsed disposition.

11. An elongated collapsible table structure comprising, a combination, a support frame means and a plurality of table forming segments;

a. said support frame means including a plurality of legs supporting a pair of generally axially parallelly disposed laterally spaced mounting raises and means accommodating relative lateral reciprocatory to-and-fro shifting of said mounting rails along a direction transverse to the rail axes, and means mechanically biasing said frame means normally urging said mounting rails in a direction toward each other;

. said table forming segments including a tip segment and a butt segment with said tip and butt segments being hingedly secured to be disposed in a first collapsed disposition in superimposed relationship one to another, and in a second extended disposition with said tip and butt segments in axial extension with one another;

c. said tip and butt segments being secured to said mounting rails and with at least one of said segments being arranged for pivotal arcuate rotation about said mounting rails to achieve an extended disposition. 

1. An elongated collapsible table structure comprising, in combination, a support frame means and a plurality of Table forming segments; a. said support frame means including a plurality of legs supporting a pair of generally axially parallelly disposed laterally spaced mounting rails and means accommodating relative lateral reciprocatory to-and-fro shifting of said mounting rails along a direction transverse to the rail axes, and means mechanically biasing said frame means normally urging said mounting rails in a direction toward each other; b. said table forming segments including a central segment, a tip segment, and a butt segment with said tip and butt segments being hingedly secured to said central segment and arranged to be disposed in a first collapsed disposition in superimposed relationship to said central segment and in a second extended disposition with said tip and butt segments in axial extension with said central segment; c. said tip and butt segments each being secured to said mounting rails at a point adjacent the juncture with said central segment with mounting bracket means arranged for pivotal arcuate rotation about said mounting rails between said collapsed disposition and said extended disposition.
 2. The combination as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said tip and butt segments are hingedly secured to the top surface of said central segment.
 3. The combination as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said mounting bracket means have an elongated arm portion for moving said central, tip and butt segments from depending relationship to said mounting rails while in said collapsed disposition to an elevated relationship to said mounting rails while in said extended disposition.
 4. The combination as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said tip segment is tapered toward the free end thereof.
 5. The combination as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said mechanical biasing means includes a spring-loaded brace coupled to said legs and extending beneath each of said mounting rails and disposed generally transverse to said rail axes.
 6. The combination as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said central segment has an abutment stop plate and said mounting bracket means has an abutment surface for contacting said stop plate upon reaching said extended disposition.
 7. The combination as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said frame means includes four legs, each of said legs being pivotally secured to a rigid base support along an axis generally parallel to the axes of said mounting rails.
 8. The combination as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that cover means are provided for enclosing said table structure while in said collapsed disposition.
 9. The combination as defined in claim 8 being particularly characterized in that said cover means has a downwardly extending skirt enclosing said table structure while in collapsed disposition.
 10. The combination as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said hinge means securing said tip and butt segments to said central segment includes a hinge means with a central body section hingedly coupled to a pair of opposed end sections, said end sections securing said tip and butt segments to said central segment in spaced apart superimposed relationship while in said collapsed disposition.
 11. An elongated collapsible table structure comprising, a combination, a support frame means and a plurality of table forming segments; a. said support frame means including a plurality of legs supporting a pair of generally axially parallelly disposed laterally spaced mounting rails and means accommodating relative lateral reciprocatory to-and-fro shifting of said mounting rails along a direction transverse to the rail axes, and means mechanically biasing said frame means normally urging said mounting rails in a direction toward each other; b. said table forming segments including a tip segment and a butt segmeNt with said tip and butt segments being hingedly secured to be disposed in a first collapsed disposition in superimposed relationship one to another, and in a second extended disposition with said tip and butt segments in axial extension with one another; c. said tip and butt segments being secured to said mounting rails and with at least one of said segments being arranged for pivotal arcuate rotation about said mounting rails to achieve an extended disposition. 